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CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A REVOCABLE LICENSE TO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH TO OCCUPY STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR PLACEMENT OF A NEW STAIRCASE AND ENTRANCE ALONG COMANCHE STREET FOR AN FEE OF $952 PER YEAR.
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BACKGROUND: First Baptist Church is currently in the process of remodeling the church at 211 West Comanche Street. First Baptist Church plans to build a new staircase and entrance to the church along the south side of the church along Comanche Street. As designed, the staircase and entrance encroaches nine hundred and fifty two square feet into the right-of-way.
DISCUSSION: The Department of Public Works, the Department of Utilities, and the Planning Department have reviewed the proposed plans. Each department is comfortable with locating the staircase and entrance within City of Norman Right-of-Way so long as First Baptist Church follows certain conditions contained within the proposed Revocable License.
In essence, Comanche Street has an abundance of right-of-way (80 feet) because it was platted many years ago when right-of-way requirements were greater than they are today. First Baptist Church is proposing to utilize 20 feet of existing right-of-way, leaving 60 feet which matches the City’s current right-of-way standard. Over the next three (3) months, the church plans to request the permanent vacation or closing of the north 20 feet of right-of-way on Comanche Street. The church has requested this revocable license because their building improvement project is on a fast-track schedule and cannot wait for the full right-of-way closure process to be completed. As a companion item to the right-of-way closure, the church has agreed to dedicate a public pedestrian easement where the sidewalk is located on the north side of Comanche Street.
Prior to drafting the license, the City Attorney’s Office reviewed previous agreements between the City of Norman and Coach’s Brewhouse, 329 Partners LLC, and La Baguette, Inc. These entities both leas...
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